The Arizona Republic

Colombia will face Panama in Glendale quarterfin­al

- José M. Romero

The second-to-last Copa America 2024 quarterfin­al is set for Saturday afternoon at State Farm Stadium, when Colombia faces Panama for a spot in the South American soccer championsh­ip semifinals.

Panama, which never has advanced this far in Copa America, entered Thursday as one of only two Confederat­ion of North, Central America and Caribbean Associatio­n Football (CONCACAF) teams left in the tournament, along with Canada. It’s not a stretch to say that Panama was the team least expected to still be alive after the group stage of matches, in which Mexico and the U.S. were eliminated.

But Panama has two major tournament wins over Colombia in the past, both coming in the CONCACAF Gold Cup in 2005. Colombia won the other four meetings, all friendlies.

Colombia won Group D of the tournament, defeating Paraguay 2-1 in Houston, Costa Rica 3-0 in Glendale and drawing 1-1 with Brazil in Santa Clara, Calif. Panama lost 3-1 to Uruguay in Miami Gardens, Fla., defeated the U.S., 2-1 in Atlanta and defeated Bolivia 3-1 in Orlando to take second place in Group C.

Colombia looks to remain undefeated at State Farm Stadium

The winner on Saturday faces the Uruguay-Brazil winner in the semifinals on July 10.

In Copa America Centenario eight years ago, Los Cafeteros, as the Colombian national team is known, won the third-place match over the U.S. 1-0, at what was then University of Phoenix Stadium. On June 28 of this year they defeated Costa Rica 3-0 in front of at least 27,000 Colombia fans in Glendale.

Saturday marks the final Copa America 2024 match in Arizona, and maybe the last one for good unless operationa­l changes to how the tournament is being run are made.

Reports and accounts of issues with the South American Football Confederat­ion (CONMEBOL) for how it has handled staffing, venue operations, team operations at training sites and media access. Another issue has been the high cost of match tickets at host sites all over the U.S., including Glendale, where in most cases prices have been $70 or more to sit in the upper deck at State Farm Stadium and well over $100 in the lower level.

Colombia’s fans, as they did last Friday, are expected to be the overwhelmi­ng majority of those in the seats on Saturday at State Farm Stadium. But plenty of tickets remain available.

When is the game?

Kickoff is scheduled for 3 p.m. (local time) in Glendale on Saturday. Tickets remain available via SeatGeek for $59 and up, as of late morning on Friday.

How to watch Saturday

The match will air on FS1 at 3 p.m. and TUDN (Spanish) starting at 2:30 p.m.

Colombia vs Panama rosters

Colombia (with player’s club team)

● Goalkeeper­s: 25 - Álvaro Montero (Millonario­s), 1 - David Ospina (AlNassr), 12 - Camilo Vargas (Atlas).

● Defenders 2 - Carlos Cuesta (Genk), 21 - Daniel Muñoz (Crystal Palace), 23 Davinson Sánchez (Galatasara­y), 26 Deiver Machado (Lens), 3 - Jhon Lucumí (Bologna), 17 - Johan Mojica (Osasuna), 4 - Santiago Arias (Bahia), 13 - Yerry Mina (Cagliari).

● Midfielder­s: 10 - James Rodríguez (São Paulo), 16 - Jefferson Lerma (Crystal Palace), 8 - Jorge Carrascal (Dynamo Moscow), 20 - Juan Fernando Quintero (Racing), 5 - Kevin Castaño (Krasnodar), 15 - Mateus Uribe (Al-Sadd), 6 - Richard Ríos (Palmeiras), 11 - Jhon Arias (Fluminense), 22 - Yáser Asprilla (Watford).

● Forwards: 24 - Jhon Córdoba (Krasnodar), 14 - Jhon Jader Durán (Aston

Villa), 7 - Luis Díaz (Liverpool), 18 - Luis Sinisterra (Bournemout­h), 9 - Miguel Borja (River Plate), 19 - Rafael Santos Borré (Internacio­nal).

Panama (with player’s club team)

● Goalkeeper­s: 22 - Orlando Mosquera (Maccabi Tel Aviv), 1 - Luis Mejía (Club Nacional),12 - César Samudio (CD Marathón)

● Defenders: 4 - Eduardo Anderson (Deportivo Saprissa), 3 - José Córdoba (Norwich City), 15 - Eric Davis (FC Kosice), 19 - Iván Anderson (Fortaleza CEIF), 23 - Michael Murillo (Marseille), 2 - César Blackman (Slovan Bratislava), 24 Edgardo Fariña (CSD Municipal), 25 Roderick Miller (Turan-Tovuz IK), 18 Omar Valencia (NY Red Bulls).

● Midfielder­s: 5 - Abdiel Ayarza (Cienciano), 20 - Anibal Godoy (Nashville SC), 8 - Adalberto Carrasquil­la (Houston Dynamo FC), 6 - Cristian Martínez (Al Jandal), 7 - José Luis Rodríguez (Famalicão), 10 - Edgar Bárcenas (Mazatlán FC), 14 - Jovani Welch (Académico Viseu FC), 13 - Freddy Góndola (Maccabi Bnei Reineh), 16 - Carlos Harvey (Minnesota United FC), 21 - César Yanis (AD San Carlos), 26-Kaiser Lenis (Jaguares de Cerdoba)

● Forwards: 11- Ismael Díaz (CD Universida­d Católica), 17 - José Fajardo (CD Universida­d Católica), 9 - Eduardo Guerrero (Zorya Lugansk).

 ?? DANIEL BARTEL/USA TODAY ?? Colombia forward Luis Diaz (7) celebrates his penalty kick goal against Costa Rica during the first half of their battle at State Farm Stadium on June 28 in Glendale.
DANIEL BARTEL/USA TODAY Colombia forward Luis Diaz (7) celebrates his penalty kick goal against Costa Rica during the first half of their battle at State Farm Stadium on June 28 in Glendale.
 ?? NATHAN RAY SEEBECK/USA TODAY SPORTS ?? Panama forward Cesar Yanis (21) celebrates after scoring a goal against Bolivia during a Copa America group stage match on Jul 1 at Inter&CO Stadium.
NATHAN RAY SEEBECK/USA TODAY SPORTS Panama forward Cesar Yanis (21) celebrates after scoring a goal against Bolivia during a Copa America group stage match on Jul 1 at Inter&CO Stadium.

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